TopBand: Aurora condx. on topband?

[John Devoldere (ON4UN)]

Bo:

Congrats on working the FH. I will try tonight, hi..

In my book on page 1-10 I write that enhanced conditions often appear when
aurora sets in, and also after the aurora dies down. This many of us have
witnessed. Enhanced radiation from the sun occurs before the particles
reach us, and cause the aurora itself. This must be what you witnessed, Bo.

In my next edition of the book I will elaborate a little more on this
subject, if you don't mind I will quote from your experience.
73

john

At 01:44 10/11/97 +0100, you wrote:
Hi there.
>Tonight FH/DJ2BW was on topband with a good S7 signal.  I don't have an
>impressive set-up for 160m (inv V apex less than 15 m/45 ft, ends just
>above the ground).  I just had to call one time, and he was in log,
>usually I have to call several hours. This was at 20.30z.
>Now what's interesting is that about 30 min. later, aurora was detected
>on the higher bands and when aurora came to OZ (55 N lat.) the signal
>from FH dropped to the noise level.  ON4UN low-band Bible tells a bit
>about path across north pole and crooked path during aurora, but nothing
>about if the aurora belt could be used as a kind of giant reflector,
>which gives super north/south condx.  This of course when the aurora
>belt is approaching, not when it's here.
>We have witness this phenomenon a couple of times in OZ, best back in
>1994, when DK7PE was in TN.  At that occasion, he was worked by an OZ
>using 100 W to an indoor trapped 80 M dipole ! and it seems that no one
>else in EU could hear him.  Once again, when the aurora came a bit later
>that night, the OZ party was over.
>
>Is this a coincidence or can the aurora belt be used as sort of a
>reflector on topband ?
>
>Boulder K index today
>18z K=3, 21z K=4, 0z K=5
>
>73's de Bo
>OZ8ABE
>
>
>
> -
> ---
>FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/topband.html
>Submissions:              topband@contesting.com
>Administrative requests:  topband-REQUEST@contesting.com
>Problems:                 owner-topband@contesting.com
>

***************************************************************
*            John Devoldere, ON4UN, AA4OI, OT7T               *
*             e-mail: john.devoldere@innet.be                 *
*                address: Poelstraat 215                      *  
*                         B9820 Merelbele                     * 
*                         Belgium                             *
*                 mailing addres: P.O.Box 41                  *  
*                                 B9000 Gent,                 *
*                                 Belgium                     *
***************************************************************
*                                                             *
      
*  PLEASE CALL US IN THE CONTESTS (ON4UN OR OT7T). THANK YOU! *
                                                             *
***************************************************************   

 -
 ---
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/topband.html
Submissions:              topband@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  topband-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-topband@contesting.com